File system sort order indexes

• US 5,878,410 A
• Filed: 09/13/1996
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Berkowitz, Brian T., Zbikowski, Mark J., Peltonen, Kyle G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kulik, Paul V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wallace, Jr., Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US08/714,799
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707/3, 707/4, 707/5, 707/6, 707/7, 707/200, 707/1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/322 Trees
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting

Abstract

A system and method for returning a sorted result set of information corresponding to files in a file system that have properties which match user query criteria. A view index of files sorted by at least one property common to those files is provided. The view index may be synchronously or asynchronously updated as files are changed. Upon receipt of query requesting a result set of files corresponding to properties in the query criteria, the view index is compared to determine if the properties are maintained in an order that corresponds to the query criteria. If so, the view index is accessed to locate information of files that have the matching properties, and the result set is returned. The view index may be associated with a view description of the identities and order of the properties. The comparison to determine if a view index corresponds with the criteria may then be performed against the view description.

Claims

1. In a computer system, a mechanism for returning a sorted result of information corresponding to files in a file system that have properties which match user query criteria, comprising, a view index having a plurality of files represented therein sorted by at least one property common to those files, a view description associated with the view index, the view description including information representative of the organization of the properties in the view index, means for receiving a query requesting a result set, the query including query criteria corresponding to properties of files in the file system, a comparison routine for comparing the view index with the query criteria to determine if the properties in the view index are stored in an order that corresponds to the query criteria, means associated with the comparison routine for reading the view index to locate information of files that have properties with match user query criteria if the properties in the view index are stored in an order that corresponds to the query criteria, and means for returning the result set identifying the located files, wherein the properties are selected from a group consisting of a file name, an author identification and a time stamp.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the at least one property is identified in a properties data structure within the view description.

3. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the view description includes a scope definition.